I'm a beginner and have a question about fitting a wooden beam perfectly between two walls. The beam is exactly the distance between the walls, but when I try to put it in, it ends up being longer because it can't go in straight. I can't share pictures right now, so I'm hoping to get some advice on how to handle this situation.
3 Answers
Measuring the walls for straightness is also important! They might not be plumb. If this is new construction, or if you've got uneven surfaces, that could be the issue. What exactly is the beam for?
If there's baseboard molding in the room, try removing a section of it. You can then force the beam into place where the molding was, lifting it up to where you need it. Once it’s secure, just replace the molding to hide any damage to the wall.
You might want to cut the beam slightly shorter than the exact length needed. Once it's in place, you can use shims to make it fit snugly.
If you're worried about the beam being too loose, consider adding a stud on the wall underneath and attaching the beam to that for extra support.
But be careful! Cutting it just a little, like 1/16 inch, could be too much.